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Post by PG on Jan 24, 2019 19:47:51 GMT
If it were me I'd ditch the CH-R and go for the new Corolla estate - I think all the models look good but the wagon version, to me, is the best looking in its class. I was thinking the same. Another +1 here. The Corolla estate looks a really good design, inside and out. |
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Post by racingteatray on Jan 25, 2019 18:13:11 GMT
Well let's not exaggerate, but it is a reasonable effort.
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Post by Alex on Jan 25, 2019 22:29:35 GMT
For it's segment it certainly is and is more interesting than a number of German estates of a similar size but I’m not going to pretend it’ll be as good to drive or have as nice an interior. In any case it’s not being released until February so I don’t know what it’s emissions will be or when orders are actually being taken.
I’ve had confirmation that the Niro can indeed be ordered in 3 spec but with the smaller wheels of 2 spec to get the emissions down to 86g and bring it into budget. That’s annoyed two of my colleagues who were unaware of this and have ordered one in 2 spec. It’s a pretty generously specced car for £26k as it gets heated leather seats and stereo, premium JBL sound system and a bigger touchscreen. Our fleet guys ordered me one to test drive for a weekend in a couple of weeks so I’ll see how I find it.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2019 16:27:06 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2019 10:22:33 GMT
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Post by Alex on Jan 27, 2019 17:30:06 GMT
It is a good looking car and I’m sure Mazda should be commended for sticking with right-sized engines but the package looks really average. Those C pillars are massive and the boot is no bigger than a Fiestas. That said if it was imposed upon you I can’t imagine you’d be disappointed.
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Post by PG on Jan 30, 2019 16:15:24 GMT
I remember from years ago a writer said that the interior of some boggo basic city car was "what I imagine sitting inside a large lego brick must feel like". |
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Post by Alex on Feb 3, 2019 11:37:46 GMT
Our local Toyota dealer got their first Corolla in on Friday so I went and had a look. It was a hatchback and the boot looks rather small at only 360L. If you opt for the new 2.0L hybrid it has a bigger battery so you only get 313L.
Anyway that’s not worth worrying about as I’d be looking at an estate (sorry, Touring Sport). First impressions are not overly positive, the switchgear doesn’t feel right to me, the main display has those little chrome buttons you used to get on cheap hi fi and the two stalks were so far short in quality compared to my Golf that it’s as if they’re from cars a couple of generations old. The salesman had yet to work out where the USB connection is and I’m buggered if I could see it. The previous Auris’s and Prius’s futuristic blue transmission switch has been replaced with a more traditional automatic transmission selector which I’d probably be fine with if it was t for the fact it was an ugly big rounded grey blob of a lever that takes up a lot of room and has not an iota of decorative flourishes such as metallic trim to set it off, as the car was locked i was unable to see if it was less of an issue when moved to drive. Euro spec cars also have a dark grey headlining which makes the interior incredibly gloomy. The difference in airiness that having a light trim from the base of the window up makes in the Golf is remarkable and makes it feel twice as big inside than the Toyota.
So I’m certainly not sold by any means. I’ve not seen an estate yet in the flesh so I may ask our fleet provider if they can get one as a demo. The showroom car was not switched on so I’ve no way of knowing whether the switchgear or infotainment are any good (why do dealerships not have their cars turned on in an age where interior function is so important?!) and once it’s out on the road the dark headlining and poor interior trim may be less of an issue (I’m not expecting any car from the Far East to be up to what I enjoy in the Golf!). Reviews I’ve read so far reckon it’s a surprisingly good steer so perhaps I need to give it the benefit of the doubt for now. So far though I’m leaning towards the Niro but I’ll wait until I’ve driven one to be sure.
If only there was a sub 100g Golf Estate for around £25k I’d be much happier!
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Post by Roadsterstu on Feb 5, 2019 8:31:40 GMT
The Niro sounds quite promising given the kit it would have.
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Post by ChrisM on Feb 5, 2019 13:43:25 GMT
^
Yes, but us the boot large enough?
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Post by Alex on Feb 5, 2019 18:48:47 GMT
^ Yes, but us the boot large enough? On the regular hybrid yes, the plug in no. The battery on the regular model sits below the rear seat next to the fuel tank. |
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Post by Alex on Mar 18, 2019 16:24:44 GMT
Having had a Niro for a weekend I’ve ruled it out on the basis that the boot is smaller than I thought it would be and little bigger than a regular hatchback Golf. The wife drove it and doesn’t like it either I’ve sat in the new Corolla a couple of times and I can’t be doing with the black headlining which makes the interior feel like the inside of a burnt out building. So that leaves the Ionic. I’ve driven a colleagues one and it’s quite comfortable and well equipped. So I’ve put in an order for one in fiery red with Premium SE spec which has every toy a car of this class can have including heated and cooled leather seats with electric adjustment, xenon lights, full parking aids and lane assist plus an Infinity sound system. The fastback body shape also gives it a surprisingly useful sized boot. At 84g/km the CO2 figure used for tax purposes is at least low enough to mitigate against the upcoming company car tax changes which are becoming almost punitive. Whether it’s low enough past 2021 I don’t know.
I’m not expecting anyone to be particularly excited by my choice but I think it will serve its purpose well and being an auto will make it much easier to drive around town.
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Post by Roadrunner on Mar 18, 2019 16:59:54 GMT
That's a lot of spec for (relatively) little tax. It will be interesting to see how the real world fuel consumption works out.
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Post by Alex on Mar 18, 2019 20:42:28 GMT
That's a lot of spec for (relatively) little tax. It will be interesting to see how the real world fuel consumption works out. The trip computer in my colleagues one was showing 59mpg so I reckon it’ll be quite parsimonious, although this was reflected in the lack of acceleration compared to my Golf! |
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Post by Martin on Mar 18, 2019 20:47:50 GMT
The CVT gearbox alone would rule out the Toyota for me. Sounds like you’ve made the right choice and the standard spec sounds really good.
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Post by Alex on Jul 21, 2019 9:01:58 GMT
Bit of an update. Hyundai have ramped up production ahead of a facelift later in the year and as a result my car has arrived three months early. Delivery date to our office is 2nd August. There’s still three months left on the Golf’s lease but we’ve got a couple of new starters who would normally be given a hire car courtesy of Thrifty during their probation but as this costs over £150 more than the monthly lease on my car, our fleet manager has decided I can have my new car early and they can smoke round in the Golf for a few months. Pics to follow in a few weeks.
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Post by cbeaks1 on Jul 21, 2019 12:05:39 GMT
I had an Uber back from the airport in an Ioniq a couple of weeks ago. Surprisingly spacious and the boot is way bigger than I would have thought. Seemed to drive on from the passenger seat and the interior fit and finish was good. It had done approaching 40k miles and was like new.
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